Owlbury Hall Barn
Description
Bishop's Castle 3.2 miles.
Situated just over the Wales/England border in Snead, Shropshire, lies Owlbury Hall Barn, a characterful detached, reverse-level barn conversion set on a 11-acre estate.
Family-friendly and pet-friendly, this lovely holiday home is delightfully rural and perfect for a walking or cycling holiday, with the Kerry Ridge visible from the property and a wealth of quaint towns and villages within easy reach.
Arriving, you will find plenty of off-road parking and extensive gardens you can spend warmer days enjoying, including two fenced paddocks so your canine companions can run free.
Inside, the ground-floor hosts the bedrooms and bathrooms, making it easy to unload your bags or jump straight into bed to rest after a busy day of walking.
Upstairs, gather with your loved ones for dinner; choose from a quick bite in the kitchen/diner which has been fitted with everything you could need for a self-catering stay, or the larger dining area in the living/dining room.
After eating, curl up in front of the fire while you watch a film on the Smart TV, or you could relax, unwind and reflect on your day in the hot tub.
When you can tear yourself away, explore the nearby Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or the popular Stiperstones village.
If you want to treat your loved ones to a meal out, the nearby Bishop's Castle has a choice of pubs and eateries to choose from.
Next stop is Montgomery, home to ruins of an 1100s castle and a handful of niche museums.
Further afield, shopping can be found in Ludlow, known for its medieval castle and fresh food market, where you can stock up on delicious produce to cook up a storm with at Owlbury Hall Barn.
No matter the season, Owlbury Hall Barn is a fabulous choice for a memorable holiday in a picture-perfect area.
Your dates
Everything you'll need
- Wifi
- Dishwasher
- Garden / Patio
- Ground Floor Bedroom
- Hot Tub
- Wifi
- Dishwasher
- Garden / Patio
- Ground Floor Bedroom
- Hot Tub
- Open Fire
- Off Road Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Smoke Free
- Near Walks
What guests are saying
Dirtiest place we’ve stayed in.
Left after one night. Cooker filthy, freezer frosted up, peanuts on the lounge floor etc. Owner offered to clean the place when we complained. Read other reviews. If you go mind the potholes!
Great venue with beautiful countryside.
The dogs loved the freedom in running around the garden. Plenty of walks close by. Lots to see and do around the area. We couldn’t have had a better time. Well proportioned house. Very good facilities. Highly recommend this country cottage for family and animal get togethers .
Gorgeous place beautiful grounds lovely area!
! However it was not clean and not sure if it had been cleaned. Cobwebs everywhere, shower not cleaned, black gunk in corner of shower. Door knobs loose, door handle missing, dining table sticky, take away fork in one bedroom. Toilet bin not emptied, toilet had been used and not clean! Not dog friendly!! The grounds were not secure and the only area that was secure was a small stoney section at the side of house. The 2 paddocks that were mentioned were overgrown and impossible to walk dogs in. Hot tub didn't work. Sticky full fly traps in kitchen. The fans provided in bedrooms were thick with dust. I would not normally complain but these things had all been mentioned a year ago!!
Thank you for the kind words about the barn, the grounds and the area — and I'm sorry your birthday break was spoiled. On the cleaning, you're right, and we won't make excuses. The standard on your changeover fell well below what we expect and what our guests normally receive. We've been through your list point by point with our cleaner, the shower sealant has been replaced, the fans and fly traps removed, and we've tightened our post-changeover checks. Two things we'd gently correct for anyone reading. The hot tub fault was reported to us after 8pm; we replied the same evening and James was with you by 10am the next morning, as you'd asked — it then worked for the rest of your stay. And our outdoor space is described honestly in the listing: a secure gravelled courtyard with 4ft fencing for dogs, plus two larger fenced paddocks which we clearly state are not escape-proof. Everything else could have been put right within hours had we been told at the time. Please always tell us. Elise and James
This accommodation is amazing, set in beautiful surroundings.
We were very comfortable with our stay, also having a hot tub was great. We met James who was super helpful too. Would definitely recommend!
Thank you so much, Brodie — we're delighted you enjoyed it and that the hot tub went down well. James will be pleased to hear the kind words. We'd love to welcome you back. Elise and James
Stunning location.
The nearby village was nice further afield, the village had lovely antique shops and pubs. James as a host was very helpful friendly and a genuine nice guy. Only downside was the cleanliness. Our plates stuck to the table. The home needed a deep clean. We had to clean pots before using any of them. If you are looking for a beautiful location for dog walks then it's paradise. The outdoor field was great for our dogs. There is ample parking. We really enjoyed our stay. Thank you.
Thank you, Chantelle — we're really pleased you enjoyed the setting, the walks and the antique shops, and James will be glad of the kind words. On the cleanliness, you were right to raise it, and we're sorry. Plates sticking to the table and pans needing rewashing isn't the standard we hold ourselves to. We've since looked at the dining table itself rather than just cleaning it — we believe the finish has degraded — and we've been through the kitchen items in detail. Thank you for telling us; it's how things get fixed. We'd love to have you back. Elise and James
The property was unloved and had too many irritations.
I have requested a 20% refund because I paid for 4* and only got 2-3* The owners were lovely; but need to fix some things to warrant 4*. Full marks for dog friendly though.
Thank you for the kind words about us and about the dog-friendly side of things, Jeremy, and we're sorry the property itself didn't match up. Your point was fair. We've been working through the individual irritations since — the shower sealant has been replaced, the dining table is being dealt with properly rather than patched, and door fittings are being replaced rather than refixed. It's a characterful old barn and it needs staying on top of. We'd be glad of the chance to show you the difference. Elise and James
Beautiful setting, very spacious with everything that you could need.
The owners were so friendly with all of us especially the children. They went above and beyond to make our stay the best possible. Our dogs had the best time exploring the grounds and the dog field.
Thank you, Hayley — what a lovely thing to read. We're so pleased the children and the dogs had such a good time, and that the grounds and dog field were a hit. Very welcome back any time. Elise and James
A comfortable and well equipped property.
Ideal for anyone wishing to take their dog(s), especially the extensive grounds around the barn. The owners were very friendly.
Thank you, Malcolm — pleased the barn worked well for you and the dogs, and that you made the most of the grounds. We hope to see you again. Elise and James
We found Owlwood Hall Barn to be both a reasonable price in the school holiday and also comfortably able to accommodate our five dogs.
To date the holiday cottages we have looked at have either been too expensive or limited in the number of dogs allowed. The accommodation itself, was perfect for both of our two families and also the dogs. The property is fully secure and it is safe to allow the dogs to run free in the extensive open areas without concern for their safety. Although situated in the vicinity of the Hall, we found the owners non intrusive and the perfect hosts. The barn is designed with three adequily equipped bedrooms on the ground floor together with a common bath/shower room and en-suit for the main bedroom. All rooms have patio doors which is very convenient, especially with the dogs. The living quarters and kitchen are on the floor above, covering the whole floor area and again they are well equipped and spacious. One of the advantages of this was that from the elevated position there are excellent views over the surrounding countryside. Our only complaint was that the lighting in the kitchen was inadequate and the fridge could be larger for the number of possible occupants. Washing up in the sink was a non starter bearing in mind the number of place settings so we relied on the dishwasher However we did find it difficult with the dishwasher being downstairs in the utility room. But we managed . The Wifi was fine and the TV (once we had worked out how to use it was good. (user manual please). There is a utility room and conservatory on the ground, but perhaps, more importantly, there is an excellent 24/7 hot tub, ready for instant use . A barbecue and log burner are available on the patio together, with a garden table and chairs, which because of the weather, we used most days. I cannot emphasise how impressed we were with this cottage and will certainly be returning next year. The whole set up is to accommodate both humans and their four legged fiends (lots of them). Although fully furnished and welcoming, both this and the floor covering have been carefully selected to allow guests to relax with their pets without continuously worrying about their safety and welfare. Although this review concentrates on the dogs, it is the ideal accommodation for exploring the surrounding country side an don’t worry about provisions while you are there because within 10 minutes drive there is a supermarket which would rival any we have in Reading, Thank you to the owners. for a great holiday and I hope this review will have many more enquires going forward
A great place for a country break away with friends.
Owner was very helpful.
Thank you, Sheila — glad it suited a group break and that you found us helpful. You'd be very welcome back. Elise and James
My friends and I wanted the perfect place to celebrate a special birthday, and we loved our stay at Owlbury Hall Barn.
Our hosts were so friendly and welcoming: nothing was too much trouble. They even helped one of my friends who had a problem with her car. As for the house itself, the living area was huge and comfortable, with lovely views over the countryside, and the hot tub was a real treat. Perhaps best of all was the fact that we were allowed to bring all four of our dogs, who also loved their holiday. There were enclosed areas around the house itself for the dogs to potter about, as well as secure fields for a proper run, and plenty of lovely walks. We had a great stay and can't wait to come back!
We are so pleased you had such a great time at Owlbury Hall Barn. Thank you for being such wonderful guests and we very much hope to see you again!
Dirty socks were left on the top of the travel cot, Cob webs and dust everywhere, Mould in the showers, they had not even tried to remove it, The fridge was too small for 8 people, Dishwasher downstairs when the kitchen was upstairs, Door handles loose, on the kitchen and bedroom.
The bedroom handle actually fell off. Only to be held on with a screw, Tap dripping all the time in the kitchen, Light bulb in downstairs bathroom full of water, therefore no light in the bathroom, Parasol broken so couldn't sit out for long, No furniture in the conservatory, the windows were rotten and floor tiles broken. Husband cut his foot on it. Could have been one of the babies, Enclosed garden was tiny, full of nettles and thistles, Rugs smelt disgusting and were full of stains underneath. We had to roll them up and kept them behind the settee, Dirty and dusty underneath the settees. We even found a yogurt pot which was full of mould, must have been under the settee so long. Pool table was broken, so couldn't play it. The barn was dangerous to be in. We have lots of photographs if required. We actually paid £40 for early arrival and late departure to pay the cleaner! The last couple of years we have booked through Sykes and all the cottages were beautiful and spotless. Unfortunately this time we were very disappointed.
Thank you for your review. We're very sorry to hear that aspects of your stay did not meet expectations and appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. Cleanliness and maintenance are extremely important to us, and we’ve raised the cleaning concerns with our external cleaning contractor. Had you contacted us on arrival or during your stay, we would have gladly arranged for the cleaner to return immediately — as we always aim to put things right without delay. Similarly, the maintenance issues you noted — including the door handle, dripping tap, parasol, and lightbulb — were all fixed promptly after your departure. These are straightforward items we would have been happy to resolve during your stay had we been made aware at the time. The conservatory is not advertised as part of the main living space in the property. We deliberately leave it unfurnished as many guests find it useful as a large entrance space for wet dogs, boots, and coats. That said, we’ve taken your feedback onboard and have ordered seating to make the space more versatile for future guests. Regarding safety, we were unable to locate the broken tile mentioned and requested photos via Sykes for clarification, but none were received. Nevertheless, the area has been checked and any potential hazards addressed. The garden area is enclosed and secure as described, but we acknowledge a brief period of growth following recent rain. This has since been cleared and trimmed. We’d also like to clarify that the downstairs utility area (where the dishwasher is located) and the kitchen layout are explained in our listing — furthermore, the pool table barn is not part of the advertised holiday let. We always strive to provide a clean, safe, and relaxing experience at Owlbury Hall Barn, and we are genuinely sorry that this visit did not meet the high standard we aim to maintain. We have taken your feedback seriously and used it to review and improve several aspects of the property. For example, we had not recently inspected the underneath of the rugs but we have ordered some new ones now.
This was the perfect place for us with having 3 dogs of varying size they had all the space they could ever want and more.
We had all the comforts we needed for 4 adults and a toddler lots of space and all we needed for our stay it really is a lovely place to stay and be relaxed with all the family including our pets We really could not of asked for more Elise and James were the perfect hosts there if required but not imposing in any way.
Thank you so much for taking the time to review Owlbury; we are glad you had a great stay and hope you'll visit again soon.
Really enjoyed our stay here.
Good location went for a hike at carding mill valley! Our stay was for 6 adults and one dog. Plenty of room !
Thank you so much for taking the time to review Owlbury; we are glad you had a great stay and hope you'll visit again soon.
Fantastic place to stay!
Yes the facilities are somewhat dated but it reflects in the price and there wasn't any issues with the use of it. The games barn was brilliant, it is just an unused barn with run down stuff in it but perfectly usable and a great addition for the kids. The grounds were superb, the dogs loved the freedom of it and the children were able to fly a kite and run around plenty. Hot tub was lovely after a day of walking both in Wales and the Shropshire AONB. The owners were great both before and during the visit. Perfect place for a dog and child friendly holiday where you can just switch off from normal life.
Thank you so much for taking time to provide feedback, we are delighted you had a great stay. We are committed to continually updating the property, whilst also retaining the barn's charm and original features. We hope you will visit again next year and benefit from the improvements we have planned!
Our stay at Owlbury barn was in general a good one .
However we were surprised that the cottage was not segregated from the owners house in the description it say the grounds were secure for pets but in reality the grounds are open which was disappointing . The WIFI was also very poor and the only way we could watch tv was through a firestick and our phones .The property as previous reviews suggest is tired and a little more effort could make it more appealing both internally and externally. Overall we thought bearing in mind we stayed in peak holiday season the price was reasonable but we would invest more money in the future to secure a higher standard of property .
Thank you for the feedback, we very much appreciate it. I’m glad that your stay was generally a good one. I’m sorry you didn’t feel the description explained the situation regarding which areas were secure for the dogs well enough, I will relook at this. The aerial photos do show the proximity to the Hall though and it’s clear that there are 2 properties within the 11 acres. There is a small, securely fenced (4ft fencing) area at the rear of the Barn and around the hot tub and there are of course the 2 exercise paddocks which are fenced as well. We are sorry you experienced poor WiFi, we taken onboard your comments and upgraded the system. The Barn now has its own connection whereas previously it was being shared across the 2 properties so the speed and reliability is now much improved. We are glad though you felt it was overall value for money. We do have plans to make additional upgrades during the next couple of months. Thank you again for taking the time to provide feedback.
One or 2 small negatives, wifi was very patchy, although part of being away is to switch off so its not a biggie, but could be for some people.
Sliding doors in bedrooms do not seem to open so could get a little warm downstairs in the sun. A couple of electric fans would be useful I feel in the hot weather. It looks like it would be lovely in the winter with all the heaters and log burners. IF I went again at this time of year I would bring fly spray, need the windows open to keep cool so a lot of flies get in. No storage in middle bedroom, didn't really bother us but might be useful for people to know. Saying that we had an excellent time, the location is superb, the land was great for the children and dogs to run around, always felt very safe at any time of the day. The inside space was plenty big enough for the 7 of us to sit around in comfort. Hot tub was a nice feature. Would definitely consider staying there again, it pretty much met all of our requirements and cost was reasonable considering facilities and the number of people we had.
Thank you for your feedback, it is very much appreciated. I have just ordered some additional storage for the middle bedroom and a couple of fans, so I hope that these will be useful additions. We hope to see you again in the future.
We had a very enjoyable stay Owlbury hall barn, very quiet and relaxing.
We enjoyed exploring the area walking with our dog. We loved meeting James who was so friendly and Ruby his dog. A great place to stay.
Dear Jane, We are so pleased you had a lovely holiday and everything was ok for you. We hope to see you again in the future! Thank you for taking the time to review. Best wishes, Elise, James and Ruby!
Beautiful setting and lovely spacious accommodation .
The only thing that could be improved is the WiFi which was intermittent.
Dear Claire, thank you for taking the time to review. We are so pleased you had a lovely holiday with us and enjoyed the setting and spacious accommodation. We hope to see you again in the future. Regards, Elise and James. Note for Potential Guests: The internet is provided by Star Link which is the best possible internet available in this location. We have had an engineer out since this feedback and it is working well.
Fab break away with dogs.
Loved the fact that there was so much space for them. Hot tub was a bonus. Will definitely return.
Thank you so much for taking the time to provide feedback and so glad you enjoyed your stay. We look forward to seeing you again. Elise and James.
A stunning location.
Beautiful setting. A lovely big house to stay in. Had everything you needed but it was a tad tired for the money. We had 3 families and so the living space was awesome. If I could suggest a new oven (or an air fryer) as the main oven is just a warmer im sure. The patio doors in the bedroom were all very precarious and weren't to be used. Lovely comfy beds, very dog friendly place. Would go again but more prepared.
So glad you had a great time and enjoyed the property. Thanks for highlighting the issue with the oven, a new one is on order.
Pros - owner has been very helpful and responsive.
Barn is really big and spacious. Cons- Badly maintained house Both bathrooms were leaking between the silicone (probably needs redoing). Barn is not suitable for families with young kids. Floor boards were creaky and and some were uneven and even loose which was extremely dangerous for crawlers and toddlers. Walls were really thin. We had white noise machine blasting but it was still very loud downstairs. There were lots of flies around even before we had arrived. Seems to be a clear issue as we found fly spray in the kitchen which we could not use due to chemicals being dangerous for dogs and babies. Beds were also overused- can feel every spring through the mattress. Owners were really lovely but honestly would not go back.
Thank you Kelly for providing feedback. The mattresses were new 18 months ago and this is the first time anyone has mentioned the issue but we will certainly look to upgrade them. I have also arranged for someone to come and replace the silicone. Thanks for letting us know. I appreciate it can be very stressful holidaying with multiple families with babies, and perhaps agree that the upside down layout of the barn can lead to additional noise when babies are sleeping. The wonderful charm that comes with an authentic barn conversion does mean sound insulation will not be as good as in a modern property. Also flies, I'm afraid, are inevitable in country-life to some extent, but this is not something that has normally been a problem. I'm sorry that Owlbury Hall Barn was not the property for you but I'm pleased that you found us responsive and helpful to your needs. I wish you all the best for the future.
Great location gardens perfect for dogs and very safe for them to run off lead ,stunning views from the upstairs lounge area there was a few complications with working the tv but your in the countryside and WiFi although in the property is unpredictable the host James is very helpful and Elise I will definitely be returning again bishops castle is only a ten min drive away and lovely to walk around I found the shop keepers very friendly we stayed for a long weekend
So pleased that you and your dogs loved Owlbury! We look forward to having you stay with us again. Thank you so much for taking the time to do a review, it means a lot to us. Elise and James.
The barn is in a beautiful setting and the barn itself very spacious ideal for dogs.
The fenced back was ideal for letting your dogs out at night and the paddocks great for the day plenty of enrichment for the dogs. The road down to the barn was a bit like an extreme sport as much of it needs repair and is single track but barely any traffic so not a problem.
Dear Claire, Thank you so much for taking the time to provide feedback. We are glad you liked the accommodation, the gardens and fields and the setting. We very much hope to see you again soon. We have reported the potholes to the council and I'm sure they will come and fix them (again) soon. For any future guests concerned by this comment: The guest is referring to the stretch of road between the main road and the barn, which is 0.3 miles. It can get a little muddy in winter due to the occasional farm vehicle which comes down the lane and there are currently a few potholes. The council did fill these in a few months ago but we have reported it again and hopefully they will be addressed soon. As long as you take it steady though there is no cause for concern. This is the first time it has been raised in a review and no-one has ever had any problem getting to us or damaged their car, even if driving a low profile car. There is of course an option to access us from the other direction as well, which is a short detour but the road is in much better condition this way and avoids the small bridge/ford too. Very happy to send photos/videos of the road to anyone worried and in the meantime we'll keep chasing the council! Many thanks.
We had a lovely few days at owlbury barn.
Absolutely beautiful barn, with stunning views and grounds. Very clean and spacious. Our children loved the games. James was very helpful on arrival, we knew we could just ask if anything was needed. The hot tub was a perfect addition to the barn. Thank you for a lovely stay
Thank you Rachael for the lovely review. We hope to see you again soon, Elise and James.
Lovely stay at Owlbury Barn.
Beautiful Outlook and surroundings. Loved the upside down layout. James and Elise were very helpful . Great place for a family holiday and the dogs loved it and meeting their new friend Ruby! Will definitely look forward to returning
Dear Andrew, We are so pleased you had an enjoyable stay. Thank you for your kind words and we hope to see you again soon! Best wishes, Elise and James
We really loved Owlbury Hall Barn and James was very helpful (including when we nearly got snowed in).
It is a wonderful peaceful setting and lots of glorious walks. We'll be back
Dear Caroline, We're so glad you enjoyed Owlbury, thank you for the lovely feedback. We hope to see you again, minus the snow! Best wishes, Elise and James
Amazing space, beautiful surroundings, friendly host, highly recommended for exploring the area, relaxation and just being in nature.
So glad you liked our place, thank you so much for leaving a review. We hope to see you again!
We had a wonderful stay at Owlbury Hall Barn.
It is in such a lovely place.The barn is spacious and comfortable and has everything you need. The grounds are huge and extremely beautiful. The hosts are fabulous and very friendly. Our pup Margot loved her first doggy holiday, especially playing with Ruby, their Lab. We loved every minute of our stay and we can't wait to return.
We are so pleased you had such a wonderful time, we look forward to seeing you again soon!
We had a really lovely stay at Owlbury Hall Barn.
The barn is stunning; very spacious, immaculate and had everything we needed for a relaxing stay. The surroundings are beautiful with plenty of space for our young children and fur babies to run and explore, with the added bonus of a pool table, ping pong table and a hot tub. The owners are really lovely and approachable and made us feel very welcome. The local area is lovely with plenty of walks and we would highly recommend a trip to Powis castle. We will definitely be returning to Owlbury Hall Barn, thank you all so much.
Thank you for such lovely feedback, we are so pleased you enjoyed your stay and very much hope you do come and stay with us again.
A lovely charactered barn in beautiful rural setting.
peace and tranquility in abundance Perfect for dogs and humans alike to recharge your batteries. We will definitely be returning.
Delighted you had a great time, thank you for taking the time to do a review. We look forward to seeing you again in September!
Fabulous holiday.
Accommodation was spacious, clean and well equipped. Lots of space outdoors for children and dogs to play. Would recommend and book again.
Thank you so much for the fantastic feedback, we hope to see you again soon.
Amazing week.
. cottage delightful.. so much to do and see in the surrounding area. Beautiful little villages.. so enjoyed having lunch at Ragleigh inn (little statton) And coffee at many quaint village tea rooms. Walked the Montgomery canal lots of geocaching along the way. The national trust at little stratton walk was stunning with a lovely waterfall at the end. And the walk up to roundton hill, Montgomeryshire.. (this was volcanic many many years ago) views were incredible.. saw the red kites all around us. They are such elegant birds. All in all. Great holiday. Loved every minute oh and the jacuzzi was a perfect end to a perfect day. And our dogs had an amazing time too. Thank you James & Elise. X
Thank you so much for taking the time to do a review and let others know about the great places you found! Really pleased you liked the barn and had such a great stay! We hope to see you again.
We had a fantastic few days over half term staying at Owlbury Hall Barn (family of 4 with 2 x 15 year old boys).
The house is brilliant, so much space & the living room is great for relaxing in the evenings. The area is lovely with great walks on the doorstep & Bishops Castle is a nice small town with everything you need. Thank you to our hosts who could not have been more friendly or helpful. We’re looking forward to hopefully coming back again.
Thank you so much for the lovely review, we are delighted you liked the barn and enjoyed your stay. We hope to see you again soon.
Good to know
House Rules
Good housekeeping bond
This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £350
Smoking
Not permitted
Property notes
Please note that this property is not suitable for children under the age of 3 due to its upside-down layout
Stay Information
Check-in / Check-out
16:00 / 10:00
Property ref
1118656
Parking
Off Road Parking, Private Driveway
Guest & Pet Policy
Pets
Allowed
Children
Children and infants welcome
Accessibility
Ground floor